In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of bilateral rectus sheath blocks (RSBs) and oblique subcostal transversus abdominis plane (OSTAP) blocks on mechanical power (MP) in patients receiving laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. Additionally, we sought to evaluate the impact of these blocks on postoperative pain and quality of patient recovery.

In this prospective, double-blind study, 66 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized into two groups: Group C (control), which received a standard analgesic intravenous regimen; and Group B (block), which received bilateral RSB and OSTAP blocks. Intraoperative mechanical power was measured for all patients. Postoperative pain was assessed using visual analog scale (VAS) scores, and recovery quality was measured using the 15-item quality of recovery (QoR-15) questionnaire.

The mechanical power values for patients in Group C were consistently greater at all measured times: baseline, before bridion, and after bridion. Although the difference at baseline was not statistically significant, significant differences were observed before and after bridion (p values = 0.112, 0.021, and 0.003, respectively). Patients in Group B exhibited significantly lower VAS scores at all time points (30 min, 2 h, 8 h, and 24 h) (p < 0.05). Additionally, essential variations were noted in the administration of rescue analgesia between the groups (p < 0.001). Regarding tramadol consumption, Group C patients had significantly greater values [84 (74-156) vs. 0 (0-75), median (25-75th percentiles)] (p < 0.001). For the QoR-15 scores, Group C also had significantly greater values [129 (124-133) vs. 122 (115-125), median (25-75th percentiles)] (p < 0.001).

Bilateral RSB and OSTAP blocks significantly reduce mechanical power during surgery. Moreover, they significantly decrease postoperative pain and analgesic consumption and increase patient recovery scores.

The study protocol was registered in the international database ClinicalTrials.gov (registration no. NCT06202040). This study was conducted between December 2023 and January 2024 at the Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation of Konya City Hospital.

Pain and diaphragmatic dysfunction are the major reasons for postoperative pulmonary complications after upper abdominal surgery. Preoperative administration of analgesics helps to reduce and prevent pain. The objective of this study was first to research the rate of pulmonary complications for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and then analyze the influence of preemptive analgesia on pulmonary functions and complications. Seventy patients scheduled for elective LC were included in our double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, prospective study. Randomly, 35 patients received 1 g etofenamate (group 1) and 35 patients 0.9% saline (group 2) intramuscularly 1 h before surgery. All patients underwent physical examination, chest radiography, lung function tests, and pulse oxygen saturation measurements 2 h before surgery and postoperatively on day 2. Atelectasis was graded as micro, focal, segmental, or lobar. With preemptive analgesia, the need for postoperative analgesia decreased significantly in group 1. In both groups mean spirometric values were reduced significantly after the operation, but the difference and proportional change according to preoperative recordings were found to be similar [29.5 vs. 31.3% reduction in forced vital capacity (FVC) and 32.9 vs. 33.5% reduction in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) for groups 1 and 2, respectively]. There was an insignificant drop in oxygen saturation rates for both groups. The overall incidence of atelectasia was similar for group 1 and 2 (30.2 vs. 29.2%). Although the degree of atelectesia was found to be more severe in the placebo group, the difference was not statistically significant. We concluded that although preemptive analgesia decreased the need for postoperative analgesia, this had no effect on pulmonary functions and pulmonary complications.

This study aimed to examine the effects of differing intra-abdominal pressures on pulmonary function test results in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Forty-five patients were operated on under 3 different intra-abdominal pressures: group A (8 mm Hg), group B (12 mm Hg), and group C (15 mm Hg). On the first day before and after the operation, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC rate, peak expiratory flow speed (PEF), and maximal middle expiration speed (FEF25-75) values were measured using Vmax 229 spirometry. No significant differences were observed among the 3 groups regarding preoperative and postoperative FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF, and FEF25-75 values (P=0.96, P=0.73, P=0.48, P=0.34, and P=0.33, respectively). When the groups' preoperative and postoperative values were compared, FVC, FEV1, and PEF values significantly decreased in each group. The FEF25-75 values statistically significantly decreased in groups B and C when compared with their preoperative values; however, the decrease in group A was not significant. In conclusion, different intra-abdominal pressures during laparoscopic cholecystectomy had similar effects on pulmonary function test results. However, lower intra-abdominal pressures were associated with slightly more negative effects on FEF25-75 values.

Lung function has been shown to deteriorate after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). The present study evaluated 1) the rate of recovery after LC, and 2) the pathogenic role of postoperative pain in functional deterioration.

Lung function was measured 24 hours before LC, upon hospital discharge (48-72 h after LC), and 10 days later. All patients received metamizol after LC until discharge (2 g every 6 h i.v.). Half the patients (analgesia group) received tramadol (150 mg i.m.) 30 minutes before lung function testing on the day of hospital discharge. The remaining patients constituted the control group.

Twenty healthy subjects (53 4 years old) undergoing LC for gall bladder removal. All signed informed consent forms. Measures and outcomes: Patient characteristics and preoperative lung function results were similar in both groups. LC duration and postoperative course were also similar in both groups. All were discharged without complications within 72 hours after LC. Lung function upon discharge (FVC, FEV1, TLC, PaO2 and AaPO2) had deteriorated in both groups (p<0.001). Deterioration was less marked in the analgesia group (p < 0.05). Ten days later, lung function had normalized for all subjects.

These results indicate that after LC, 1) lung function is still abnormal when the patient is discharged from hospital, 2) lung function has fully recovered within 10 days, and 3) postoperative pain contributes significantly to temporary deterioration in lung function.

Physiological responses to postoperative acute pain may impede organ functions (cardiovascular, pulmonary, coagulation, endocrine, gastrointestinal, central nervous system, etc). Pain alleviation improves patient's comfort, but also may minimise perioperative stress response, physiological responses and postoperative organ dysfunction, assist postoperative nursing and physiotherapy, enhance clinical outcome, and potentially shorten the hospital stay. Potent postoperative analgesia, especially by epidural route, may be associated with reduction in incidence and severity of many perioperative dysfunctions. Peridural analgesia using local anaesthetics is the best technique for decreasing postoperative stress after lower abdominal or lower limb surgery. Analgesia using either epidural or high doses of morphine may improve some cardiac variables such as tachycardia and ischaemia, but does not change the incidence of severe cardiac complications. For patients undergoing vascular or orthopaedic surgery, epidural analgesia can improve clinical outcome by preventing the development of arterial or venous thromboembolic complications. However, in comparative studies, the control groups did not receive adequate prophylactic treatment for thromboembolic complications. Epidural analgesia can hasten the return of gastrointestinal motility and shorten the hospital stay. Postoperative mental dysfunction is decreased using intravenous PCA morphine in the elderly. Epidural analgesia with local anaesthetics improves postoperative respiratory function but, for unknown reasons, these benefits are not associated with a decrease in respiratory complications. On balance, the mode of acute pain relief decreases adverse physiological responses and many intermediate outcome variables; however, there is inconclusive evidence that it affects clinical outcome. Major advances in postoperative recovery can be achieved by early aggressive perioperative care, including potent analgesia, early mobilisation and oral nutrition. As a result, the hospital stay may be shortened.

Laparoscopic treatments for benign colonic disease and as palliative operations for advanced malignant disease have gained widespread acceptance as safe, efficacious, and beneficial treatment options. There are also strong indications that laparoscopic treatment for malignant colorectal disease is a viable alternative in selective patients. Further studies with substantial follow-up to determine the adequacy of resection and the comparability of cure rates are needed to assess any changes in the long-term staging and survival patterns of these treatments.

Pulmonary function tests were performed for 50 patients who were undergoing different laparoscopic surgical procedures. Measurements were made 1 to 2 h before, and 24 h after the operation. There was a highly significant reduction (p < 0.001) in forced vital capacity (-10.97 +/- 1.78), forced expiratory volume in the first second (-15.39 +/- 2.43), forced expiratory volume in the third second (-13.18 +/- 2.07), peak expiratory flow rate (-20.08 +/- 3.57), forced expiratory flow rate 25-75% (-21.45 +/- 3.57), and peak inspiratory flow rate (-14.97 +/- 5.81). These changes reflect a restrictive as well as an obstructive dysfunction. Explanations have been proposed for these changes. The pulmonary function changes were found to be more pronounced with upper abdominal procedures, where the laparoscopic ports were placed in the upper half of the anterior abdominal wall, than with lower abdominal and pelvic laparoscopy, where the ports were placed in the lower half. However, the differences between these two groups did not reach the level of statistical significance for any of the tests. The duration of pneumoperitoneum proved to have a minimal influence on the changes in the first three functions, and almost no influence on the last three. The findings of this study verify the safety of laparoscopic surgery concerning pulmonary functions, irrespective of the site of ports and the duration of pneumoperitoneum.

Abdominal surgery, especially upper abdominal surgical procedures are known to adversely affect pulmonary function. Pulmonary complications are the most frequent cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality. This review article aimed to analyse the incidence and risk factors for postoperative pulmonary morbidity and their prevention. The most important means for preoperative assessment is the clinical examination; pulmonary function tests (spirometry) are not reliably predictive for postoperative pulmonary complications. Age, type of surgical procedure, smoking and nutritional state have all been identified as potential predictors for postoperative complications. However, usually there is not enough preoperative time available to obtain beneficial effects of stopping smoking and improvement of nutritional state. In patients with COPD, a preoperative multidisciplinary evaluation including the primary care physician, pulmonologist/intensivist, anesthesiologist and surgeon is required. Consensus as to preoperative physiologic state, therapeutic preparation, and postoperative management is essential. Simple spirometry and arterial blood gas analysis are indicated in patients exhibiting symptoms of obstructive airway disease. There are no values that contra-indicate an essential surgical procedure. Smoking should stop at least 8 weeks preoperatively. Preoperative therapy for elective surgery with antibiotics, beta2-agonist, or anticholinergic bronchodilator aerosols, as well as training in cough and lung expansion techniques should begin at least 24 to 48 hours preoperatively. Postoperative therapy should be continued for 3 to 5 days. Usually, anaesthesia is responsible for early complications, whereas surgical procedures are often associated with delayed morbidity. Laparoscopic procedures are recommended, as postoperative morbidity and hospital stay seem reduced in patients without COPD. Regional anaesthesia is given as having less adverse effects on pulmonary function than general anaesthesia. However, for unknown reasons these benefits are not associated with a decrease in postoperative respiratory complications. Moreover, the quality or the type of postoperative analgesia does not influence postoperative respiratory morbidity. Postoperatively, oxygen administration increases SaO2, but cannot abolish desaturation due to obstructive apnea. The various techniques of physiotherapy (chest physiotherapy, incentive spirometry, continuous positive airway pressure breathing) seem to be equivalent in efficacy; but intermittent positive pressure breathing has no advantages, compared with the other treatments and could even be deleterious. Chest physiotherapy and incentive spirometry are the most practical methods available for decreasing secretion contents of airways, whereas continuous positive airway pressure breathing is efficient on atelectasis. In stage II or III COPD patients, admission in a intensive therapy unit and prolonged mechanical ventilation may be required.

The pulmonary response to nephrectomy was studied in 16 patients undergoing laparoscopic (n = 8) or open (n = 8) nephrectomy using a standardized anesthetic technique. Although there was no significant difference between the two groups at 24 hours, postoperative pulmonary function measures (P = 0.02-0.03) and oxygenation (P = 0.03) were significantly better in the laparoscopic surgery group at 48 hours. The median opiate analgesic requirement (P = 0.02) and the number of nights spent in the hospital (P = 0.003) also were significantly lower in this group. The results of this study suggest that laparoscopic nephrectomy offers a real biological advantage in terms of postoperative preservation of lung function and that this might therefore be the safest technique for nephrectomy in patients with limited respiratory reserves.